Loading ...Barack Obama Cites Abe Lincoln, His Hero, As He Hints His Bipartisan Crew Is Likely To Include Republican Chuck Hagel For His Secretary Of Defense Or Even Vice President; Republican Richard Lugar For His Secretary Of State And Who Knows Whom Else?
According to a report from TimesOnline (UK) this morning, Senator Obama is citing Abraham Lincoln as his “hero” and role model as he envisions his potential presidential officers covering all four quadrants of the Political Compass.
This would be a brilliant move; not only tactically in a “win the election at all costs” sense, but more importantly, in a bipartisan, “move this country forward” sense as well. Not to mention the fact, it could VERY WELL knock anticipated “protest voters” such as myself and other discontented fellow Citizens off of the proverbial “fence post” and onto the “Yes We Can!” bandwagon. Not there yet, but LEANING… LEANING… if nothing else but ever-so-slightly at this particular juncture. How many “cherry trees” might be lurking in the man’s past and how answer(s) he might provide when and if they are discovered?
In fact, it is a very “progressive” and “liberal” idea in the purest sense of the words to aspire to put together the best team available based upon qualifications despite the slight differences of opinion every here and there on those “wedge issues” the Democratic and Republican parties love to use to keep America divided. It’s called “inclusiveness” and “diversity” — values shared by TRUE libs like myself versus the phony, “Big Oil And Big Bidness” Democrats who try to play themselves off as “liberals” who infest the party.
Example A, just to illustrate my point: (so-called) “Former” Republican ACTIVIST and Wal-Mart Director, Sir Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton. All I ask of Senator Obama is to PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE leave that TWO-FACED WORM, Republican Senator Arlen Specter (so-called “civil libertarian activist”, my aching behind) out of the mix. Oh, and while you’re at it — don’t allow us to slip into a civil war like our mutual hero, President Abraham Lincoln did either, please, Sir. I’d really appreciate it if we can refrain from that at this particular time, thank you in advance…
From the referenced article [emphasis, mine]:
Barnstorming Obama plans to pick Republicans for cabinet
As he jets across two key states whipping up the support that could finish off Hillary Clinton this week, the Democratic frontrunner is already mapping out a government of all the talents. Our writer joins him aboard Obama One
Sarah Baxter
AS Barack Obama enters the final stages of the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination, he is preparing to detach the core voters of John McCain, the likely Republican nominee, with the same ruthless determination with which he has peeled off Hillary Clinton’s supporters.
The scene is set for a tussle between the two candidates for the support of some of the sharpest and most independent minds in politics. Obama is hoping to appoint cross-party figures to his cabinet such as Chuck Hagel, the Republican senator for Nebraska and an opponent of the Iraq war, and Richard Lugar, leader of the Republicans on the Senate foreign relations committee.
Senior advisers confirmed that Hagel, a highly decorated Vietnam war veteran and one of McCain’s closest friends in the Senate, was considered an ideal candidate for defence secretary. Some regard the outspoken Republican as a possible vice-presidential nominee although that might be regarded as a “stretch”.
Asked about his choice of cabinet last week, Obama told The Sunday Times: “Chuck Hagel is a great friend of mine and I respect him very much,” although he was wary of appearing as though he was already choosing the White House curtains. But after winning 11 primary contests in a row after Super Tuesday, he is ready to elbow Clinton off the stage. …”
(Snip!)
“… Earlier Obama had told the audience at a suburban high school rally in Dallas, Texas, that he intended to follow the example of his hero, President Abraham Lincoln, and appoint a cabinet of the talents, irrespective of party labels.
“I think America deserves the best person for every job and so we are going to be canvassing far and wide if I am fortunate enough to be elected,” he said.
Richard Reardon, 64, a security officer and veteran, said: “I’ll be honest. Maybe 20 years ago, I’d never have voted for a black man, but after the Bushes and the Clintons, give the man a chance.” …
(Snip!)
“… McCain blurted out that he was a “conservative liberal Republican” last week, a slip of the tongue that confirmed the fears of die-hard Republicans that he is not one of them. …”
(Snip!)
“… Obama believes he will be able to neutralise McCain by drawing on the expertise of independent Republicans such as Hagel and Lugar, who is regarded by Obama as a potential secretary of state.
Larry Korb, a defence official under President Ronald Reagan who is backing Obama, said: “By putting a Republican in the Pentagon and the State Department you send a signal to Congress and the American people that issues of national security are above politics.”
Korb recalled that President John F Kennedy appointed Robert McNamara, a Republican, as defence secretary in 1961. “Hagel is not only a Republican but a military veteran who would reassure the troops that there was somebody in the Pentagon who understood their hopes, concerns and fears,” he said. …”
(Snip!)
“… If education is to be Obama’s signature issue, he might consider appointing Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York, as his czar. The billionaire media magnate last week ruled out running for president as an independent and said he would offer his support to whichever candidate took the most nonpartisan approach to America’s problems. The subtext was clear: “Hire me.” …
Okay, hold up — I just thought of another request, Mr. Obama — while I can handle the wild thought of a defeated John McCain being appointed to certain cabinet positions where he is nowhere near a “war panic button” or a position to further advance The Amero and its North American Union (“NAU”) agenda (GAO head maybe?); PLEASE don’t even consider Joe Lieberman either; he’s much more useful shooting his mouth off harmlessly on Capitol Hill than he’d ever be serving in your cabinet.
Just the other day, I was encouraging one of my dearest friends in the world; a GOP operative and unnoficial adviser to the McCain Campaign (if you can believe that one — we just love to argue politics; always have) to consider putting Bill Richardson in for his Veep nominee. “Are you crazy?”, he asked. “There is no WAY Republican voters will embrace a Democrat for McCain’s running mate!” I reminded him that Governor Richardson (NM) shared McCain’s fondness of open borders and still has the highest NRA rating of ANY of the current or former presidential hopefuls, but he still wouldn’t bite.
Fine — pass the concept onto Barack then. I’m convinced the American People are sick and tired of partisan bickering and extremist presidencies after almost eight years of President King Bush’s reign. While my great friend hasn’t seemed to heed my advice, I must wonder if Barack Obama was wiretapping our conversation. To think he, or anybody would be as brilliant as I would be something I’d find distressing. I’m joking, of course, in the latter statement.
Remember, dear readers — I did say “LEANING“. There is a lot more left to be resolved before I could even think of jumping on the ole’ “Yes We Can” bandwagon…
And I’m anxious to see those questions, answers and events play out over the coming weeks and months.
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See Also (H/T to MemeOrandum): The Moderate Voice; Donklephant; Polimom Says; Sadly, No!; Open Left
On the subject of a potential Obama administration, there is an interesting project in pure democracy just getting started on the web: automated and continuously updated ‘approval style’ voting on VP, cabinet, and major posts. Approval style voting means you can vote for as many of the choices as you approve. The results are instantly viewable and the system is reasonably tamper proof (won’t allow multiple voting from the same computer). The lists of nominees are continually expanded to include all other reasonable suggestions. Voting may be anonymous and votes may be changed at any time. The site will remain open indefinitely for follow up research or re-voting any time (also please spread the word so as to improve the sample): http://puredem.wordpress.com
The problem with the idea of Hagel as SecDef is over the last 4 years the military has lost all respect for him, and find him to be a grandstanding, and backstabbing person. He’s a classic “RINO”, and many in the GOP would actually be turned OFF by the idea of him in such a high post. He’d definitely NOT bring a cross over vote.
Korb’s comments (see my post on him) that: “Hagel is not only a Republican but a military veteran who would reassure the troops that there was somebody in the Pentagon who understood their hopes, concerns and fears,” he said. …” is a crock, Hagel’s got enough comments out there that put him firmly in the “duck and run” camp that he won’t be see as Obama’s hawk, as McNamara was with Kennedy.